The Mystery of Christ
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Why is Paul Suffering?
Why is Paul Suffering?
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church.
For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—
Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.”
and Jason has welcomed them. They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus.”
Paul was thrown in prison because he has been inviting Gentiles to give their loyalty to Jesus.
The rulers saw Paul’s message as a threat.
We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
We proclaim Him, admonishing every person and teaching every person with all wisdom, so that we may present every person complete in Christ.
Paul is still in prison because he refuses to compromise his message.
The Mystery of Christ
The Mystery of Christ
I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The mystery was then revealed to Daniel in a vision at night, and Daniel praised the God of the heavens and declared:
May the name of God
be praised forever and ever,
for wisdom and power belong to him.
He changes the times and seasons;
he removes kings and establishes kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those
who have understanding.
He reveals the deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and light dwells with him.
I offer thanks and praise to you,
God of my ancestors,
because you have given me
wisdom and power.
And now you have let me know
what we asked of you,
for you have let us know
the king’s mystery.
Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had assigned to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He came and said to him, “Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon! Bring me before the king, and I will give him the interpretation.”
Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king and said to him, “I have found a man among the Judean exiles who can let the king know the interpretation.”
The king said in reply to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to tell me the dream I had and its interpretation?”
Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, medium, magician, or diviner is able to make known to the king the mystery he asked about. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has let King Nebuchadnezzar know what will happen in the last days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay in bed were these: Your Majesty, while you were in your bed, thoughts came to your mind about what will happen in the future. The revealer of mysteries has let you know what will happen. As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but in order that the interpretation might be made known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.
“In the days of those kings, the God of the heavens will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, and this kingdom will not be left to another people. It will crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself endure forever. You saw a stone break off from the mountain without a hand touching it, and it crushed the iron, bronze, fired clay, silver, and gold. The great God has told the king what will happen in the future. The dream is certain, and its interpretation reliable.”
In the Old Testament, “the mystery” refers to God’s plan to overthrow the nations.
God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
In Jesus, God revealed that his plan was to reconcile (with) humanity, not conquer them.
The mystery is a threat to the empires because it completely changes what’s possible for humanity.
The Messiah-Sufferings
The Messiah-Sufferings
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church.
All these events are the beginning of labor pains.
“Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another. Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
The “Messiah-Sufferings” at the trials the Church endures to testify to the Gospel.
By suffering in prison, Paul is doing his part to testify to the Gospel.
Paul’s sufferings also encourage the churches to stay committed to the mystery of Christ.
From Colossae to Turner
From Colossae to Turner
Do you understand the riches of the mystery of Jesus?
Do you believe that sharing the mystery is worth suffering for?
Are you willing to see suffering as an opportunity?